Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida, one of the most decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners in history, has confirmed he has no intention of returning to competitive Jiu-Jitsu, feeling he has already cemented his legacy in the sport.
In a recent interview on the Connect Cast podcast, Buchecha discussed his transition from Jiu-Jitsu to MMA and reflected on his illustrious grappling career, which saw him capture 13 IBJJF World Championships.
“I think it was a closed chapter,” Buchecha said when asked if he would return to competitive Jiu-Jitsu. “I did what no one did.”
After winning his last World Championship in 2019, Buchecha began exploring MMA, initially training with Daniel Cormier, Cain Velasquez, and other notable fighters. When the COVID-19 pandemic halted Jiu-Jitsu competitions in 2020, he took the opportunity to fully commit to his MMA career.
“I wasn’t going to wake up to do a fight that I’ve been doing for so long,” Buchecha explained. “My first world championship was 2011, and the last one was 2019. I stayed there for 10 years practically at the top, dominating the category these 10 years.”
The Brazilian grappling legend emphasized that his decision to leave competitive Jiu-Jitsu wasn’t financially motivated. Despite the increasing prize money in professional Jiu-Jitsu today, with organizations like the ADCC offering substantial purses, Buchecha maintains that he achieved everything he set out to do in the sport.
“In 2019, I still wanted to fight, but I realized that I wasn’t going after anyone anymore. I didn’t need to pass him, I didn’t need to pass Roger, I didn’t need to pass Fulano. I was fighting to be better than I was last year,” he reflected.
Buchecha explained that his motivation became more intrinsic over time:
“The search was no longer for anyone; it was me trying to be better than myself. And when you beat your goal, you get calm to stop.”
When asked if he would consider returning for specific super fights, he admitted that only a match with Roger Gracie might motivate him, but even then, he’s not actively seeking it.
Currently, Buchecha is focused on his MMA career, where he has compiled an impressive 5-1 record. His contract ends in July, making him a free agent able to sign with any organization. He hopes to fight again in the summer and continues to train with elite mixed martial artists.
“I’m training daily,” he said. “I moved here to Florida in 2020. I’ve been doing this sport for 5 years now. And I’m feeling that I’m on the right path.”
